Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Here comes the change

Luna stood in the center of the council room, surrounded by a sea of hostile faces. Her heart pounded in her chest as she met the accusing glares of her pack members.

Their eyes were like sharp knives cutting into her skin, feeling as though she had been cast into a pit of vipers.

The air was thick with tension and anger, the only sound the low growls emanating from the wolves that flanked her father, the alpha of the pack.

Luna knew that this meeting would not go well. She had known that her decision to stay bonded to Damian would not be well-received, but she had not expected this level of hostility.

The pack had turned on her in an instant, labeling her a traitor and a danger to their safety.

Luna took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knew she had to remain calm, to explain her side of the story, no matter how difficult it might be.

"You are a disgrace to our pack, Luna," one of the council members snarled, his lips curled back in a feral snarl. "How dare you betray us like this?"

Luna swallowed hard, her throat dry with fear.

"I am not betraying anyone," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I am simply choosing to honor the bond that I have with Damian."

One of the council members, a grizzled old wolf with a scar running down his forehead across his nose, stood up from his seat and approached Luna. She could smell the musky scent of his wolf, the earthy aroma of the forest that clung to him.

"You speak of honor, Luna," the old wolf said, his voice low and growling. "But what honor is there in endangering the lives of your packmates by choosing to consort with a monster? What honor is there in defying your own father, the alpha of this pack?"

Luna felt a lump form in her throat as she listened to the old wolf's words. She knew that he spoke for many of the council members, that they saw her as a threat to their way of life.

She gritted her teeth, feeling her anger rise in response to the insult. "Damian is not a monster," she shot back. "He is a person, just like you and me."

The wolves around her bristled at her words, their eyes flashing with fury. Luna knew that she was treading on dangerous ground, but she also knew that she could not back down now.

"Your foolishness endangers us all," her father growled, his voice low and menacing. "We cannot have a traitor in our midst."

Luna's heart skipped a beat at her father's words, knowing what they implied. But she refused to be intimidated.

"I am not a traitor," she said, her voice rising. "I am a member of this pack, and I deserve to be treated with respect."

The room exploded into chaos at her words, the wolves around her baring their teeth and snarling in outrage. Luna felt a surge of fear at their anger, but she also felt a sense of pride in standing up for herself.

But she refused to be intimidated. She knew what she had to do, even if it meant leaving her pack behind.

"I have made my decision," Luna said, her voice steady and resolute. "I will not break the bond with Damian, and I will not let anyone harm him or the ones I love. And if that means leaving this pack, then so be it."

There was a moment of stunned silence in the council chamber, a moment of stillness as Luna's words sank in. And then, like a wave crashing against the shore, the pack erupted in a chorus of angry growls and snarls.

Luna could feel their hostility like a physical force, their hatred and fear like a wall closing in around her. But she refused to be cowed, refused to back down.

She stood her ground, her eyes locked on the council members, her heart pounding in her chest. And in that moment, she knew that she had made the right choice, no matter the cost.

With a heavy heart, she made her decision. She turned on her heel and bolted towards the door.

The cold night air hit her like a slap in the face as she burst out of the council building, her heart racing with fear and adrenaline. She knew that she couldn't stay in the pack any longer, not when they saw her as a traitor.

With tears streaming down her face, Luna took off into the night to a place she herself doesn't know of yet.

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Isabella's breath was labored as she walked into Damian's room, the scent of blood and herbs lingering in the air. She had just returned from a mission, and her body was weary from the exertion.

But despite her exhaustion, she felt a thrill of excitement as she caught sight of Damian sitting on his throne.

"Damian," she said softly, walking over to him. "I'm back."

Damian opened his eyes and looked up at her, but his expression was blank. Isabella felt a pang of hurt as she saw that he didn't seem to be excited to see her.

"Welcome back, Isabella, did everything go okay?" Damian asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"Yes, we got what we needed," Isabella replied, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. She had hoped that seeing her would bring back some of the old spark between them.

Damian nodded, but his gaze seemed distant, like he was lost in thought. Isabella felt a pang of sadness grip her heart, the familiar ache of unrequited love.

Determined to bridge the distance between them, Isabella closed the gap between them, reaching up to plant a soft kiss on Damian's lips. But instead of responding, Damian recoiled, his body rigid with tension.

A knot formed in Isabella's stomach as she looked up at Damian, his expression guarded and distant. "Damian? Is everything okay?" she asked softly, reaching out to touch his hand.

Damian pulled his hand away, and Isabella felt a jolt of pain. Finally, he sighed heavily, his eyes meeting Isabella's.

"Isabelle, I'm sorry," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "I just...I can't."

Isabella's heart sank at the words, the rejection like a sharp knife twisting in her gut. "Can't what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I just need some time alone," he said, his voice distant. "Go get some rest, Isabella."

Isabella nodded, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She had been hoping for a reunion, but it seemed like her hopes were in vain.

"I see," she said, her voice shaking. "I understand. I'll...I'll go get some rest."

She walked away, her heart heavy with sadness.

As Isabella left the room, Damian's thoughts turned to Luna. He used to love Isabella, everything about her.

Damian watched how her waist moved as she exit the room and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was betraying Luna by even entertaining the thought of being with Isabella again.

Ever since acknowledging his bond with Luna, things have changed and he knew that he could never feel the same way about Isabella again.